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Steve Russell
- Site Admin
- Posts: 3349
- Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2021 10:25 am
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Steve Russell
- Site Admin
- Posts: 3349
- Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2021 10:25 am
Re: VE Day Street Celebrations in Shepherd's Bush....
And I put this together five years ago...
Today marks the 75th anniversary of ‘Victory in Europe Day’. The day when Nazi Germany accepted the
unconditional surrender of its armed forces.
A few days later the West London Observer reportedthat: ‘A brilliant sun heralded the day, throughout, which
large crowds assembled in the main thoroughfares. A wireless loudspeaker installed on the roof of Palmer’s Stores
blared out music and announcements during the morning.’
Winston Churchill’s speech from Downing Street was broadcast to the nation at 3pm, which was followed by the
Mayor of Hammersmith, Councillor F. Brader, with members of the Borough Council and others, assembling on the steps
of the main entrance of the Town Hall in King Street, to address a large and enthusiastic crowd.
“This is the day we have been waiting for on our toes for the last week or so, and it is the day we have been hoping
for, for at least five years.”
He went on to say that: “The people well deserved the two days holiday, which had come with the cessation of hostilities
in Europe, and he felt sure that they would enjoy that holiday in an appropriate way.”
The Town Hall was decorated with flags and banners. A loudspeaker van toured the area giving announcements of the
organised celebrations that were to follow.
During the afternoon the Hammersmith Borough Band played on Shepherd’s Bush Green and there were reports of
impromptu dancing in Ravenscourt Park.
‘Pianos and wireless sets, radio-grams and loudspeakers provided music for the dancing, nor had the children been
forgotten, as street parties had been hastily organised early in the afternoon so that kiddies should have their own share
of the national rejoicing. Joyous folk were everywhere…’
Many Londoners headed for Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square.
‘As darkness approached people illuminated their houses, some with ordinary electric light bulbs and others with more
ambitious colour schemes with twinkling fairy lights in “V” and various other attractive designs.
At 9pm, King George V1 made his broadcast to the Nation.
‘Many factories and other public buildings were also floodlit, and these together with the hundreds of street bonfires,
made an impressive sight to a people who had groped about in an enforced “blackout” for more than five years.’
At 10.15pm the Mayor set alight a huge bonfire on the open space alongside the river at the south end of the Town Hall.
By midnight vast crowds were dancing in Hammersmith Broadway.
The West London Observer also reported that: ‘On the second day of the celebrations, a dance was held at the
Lime Grove Baths, which was attended by the Mayor, the dancing being from 8pm to midnight.’
A thanksgiving service was planned for Sunday morning at the Hammersmith Parish Church and in the afternoon a
non-denominational service was to be held at the Ravenscourt Park bandstand. Whilst on Whit Monday a Victory Ball
was scheduled for Lime Grove Baths.
As for my family, they were living in Rylett Road at the time. Dad was still in the Army and my elder brother
remembers that there was a street party in Rylett Crescent.
However, celebrations for some were put on hold as the War in the Far East lingered on.
Steve Russell
(Thanks to Colin Woodley for forwarding me the newspaper articles)
Today marks the 75th anniversary of ‘Victory in Europe Day’. The day when Nazi Germany accepted the
unconditional surrender of its armed forces.
A few days later the West London Observer reportedthat: ‘A brilliant sun heralded the day, throughout, which
large crowds assembled in the main thoroughfares. A wireless loudspeaker installed on the roof of Palmer’s Stores
blared out music and announcements during the morning.’
Winston Churchill’s speech from Downing Street was broadcast to the nation at 3pm, which was followed by the
Mayor of Hammersmith, Councillor F. Brader, with members of the Borough Council and others, assembling on the steps
of the main entrance of the Town Hall in King Street, to address a large and enthusiastic crowd.
“This is the day we have been waiting for on our toes for the last week or so, and it is the day we have been hoping
for, for at least five years.”
He went on to say that: “The people well deserved the two days holiday, which had come with the cessation of hostilities
in Europe, and he felt sure that they would enjoy that holiday in an appropriate way.”
The Town Hall was decorated with flags and banners. A loudspeaker van toured the area giving announcements of the
organised celebrations that were to follow.
During the afternoon the Hammersmith Borough Band played on Shepherd’s Bush Green and there were reports of
impromptu dancing in Ravenscourt Park.
‘Pianos and wireless sets, radio-grams and loudspeakers provided music for the dancing, nor had the children been
forgotten, as street parties had been hastily organised early in the afternoon so that kiddies should have their own share
of the national rejoicing. Joyous folk were everywhere…’
Many Londoners headed for Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square.
‘As darkness approached people illuminated their houses, some with ordinary electric light bulbs and others with more
ambitious colour schemes with twinkling fairy lights in “V” and various other attractive designs.
At 9pm, King George V1 made his broadcast to the Nation.
‘Many factories and other public buildings were also floodlit, and these together with the hundreds of street bonfires,
made an impressive sight to a people who had groped about in an enforced “blackout” for more than five years.’
At 10.15pm the Mayor set alight a huge bonfire on the open space alongside the river at the south end of the Town Hall.
By midnight vast crowds were dancing in Hammersmith Broadway.
The West London Observer also reported that: ‘On the second day of the celebrations, a dance was held at the
Lime Grove Baths, which was attended by the Mayor, the dancing being from 8pm to midnight.’
A thanksgiving service was planned for Sunday morning at the Hammersmith Parish Church and in the afternoon a
non-denominational service was to be held at the Ravenscourt Park bandstand. Whilst on Whit Monday a Victory Ball
was scheduled for Lime Grove Baths.
As for my family, they were living in Rylett Road at the time. Dad was still in the Army and my elder brother
remembers that there was a street party in Rylett Crescent.
However, celebrations for some were put on hold as the War in the Far East lingered on.
Steve Russell
(Thanks to Colin Woodley for forwarding me the newspaper articles)